1
a
: a hand implement consisting of a broad scoop or a more or less hollowed out blade with a handle used to lift and throw material
b
: something that resembles a shovel
c
: an excavating machine
especially
: a hydraulic diesel-engine driven power shovel
2
shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling
ˈshə-və-liŋ 
ˈshəv-liŋ
1
: to take up and throw with a shovel
2
: to dig or clean out with a shovel
3
: to throw or convey roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel
shoveled his food into his mouth
: to use a shovel
Synonyms
Examples of shovel in a Sentence
Verb
He is outside shoveling snow.
I have to shovel the driveway.
I had to shovel for an hour to clear the driveway.
The snow was so deep we had to shovel a path to our front door.
Stop shoveling food into your mouth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
Implementation grants are often multimillion-dollar awards that put shovels in the ground and allow cities to fix dangerous streets.
—Austin Fast, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Channeling his beloved Calvin and Hobbes, my son helped shovel the powdery snow into a pile to form a quinzhee, or Athabascan snow shelter.
—Sarah Manguso, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shovel 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Dress warmly and bring essentials such as food, water, a first aid kit, a chainsaw and a shovel.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
Implementation grants are often multimillion-dollar awards that put shovels in the ground and allow cities to fix dangerous streets.
—Austin Fast, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Herbert already had shoveled the ball to running back J.K. Dobbins when Shepherd twisted the quarterback’s right ankle awkwardly to pull him to the ground.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Channeling his beloved Calvin and Hobbes, my son helped shovel the powdery snow into a pile to form a quinzhee, or Athabascan snow shelter.
—Sarah Manguso, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shovel
Dictionary Entries Near shovel
Cite this Entry
“Shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shovel. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shovel
2 of 2 verb
shoveled or shovelled; shoveling or shovelling
ˈshəv-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to lift and throw with a shovel
shovel snow
2
: to dig or clean out with a shovel
shovel out the sheep pens
3
: to throw or carry roughly or in a mass as if with a shovel
stop shoveling the food into your mouth
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